Plans being developed for new Brookfield, North Riverside water supply line

BROOKFIELD – The villages of Brookfield and North Riverside might gain a new water supply line during the next couple of years. The current water line, which goes from Chicago to Cicero, Stickney, Lyons, Brookfield and North Riverside, is more than 75 years old.

Robert Novotny, superintendent for the Brookfield North Riverside Water Commission, said the commission hasn’t figured the cost of the project yet, but will most likely share the cost of the new water supply line with the Broadview Westchester Water Commission.

The superintendent said the commission has been looking at a plan for a new water supply line for years but never fully pursued it because of a lack of money. He added the commission could apply for a state water fund low interest loan to help pay for the cost of the project.

Hancock Engineering principal Mark Lucas said when a water supply line ages, it eventually needs to be replaced.

“The longer it gets into aging, there are more chances of breaks or service disruptions,” said Lucas.

Novotny said the next step would be to start the designing process of the new water supply line and present it to the board.